Vertically adjustable segmental bed



Sept. 15, 1953 H. M. BERNER VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE SEGMENTAL BED Filed June 10, 1948 wezz,

MA M Patented Sept. 15, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE VERTICALLY ADJUSTABLE SEGMENTAL BED Harry M. Berner, Chicago, Ill., assignor to American Hospital Supply Corporation, Evanston, 11]., a corporation of Illinois Application June 10, 1948', Serial No. 32,107

2 Claims.

This invention relates to a hospital bed. The invention is particularly useful in connection with a hospital bed having a spring section which may be raised or lowered and also a spring section formed with segmental panels which may be adjusted angularly with respect to each other.

An object of the present invention is to provide a hospital bed structure in which the frame, including the legs, and the head and foot portions are stationary, means being provided for raising and lowering the spring section of the bed. A further object is to provide a hospital bed with a spring section formed of segmental parts which may be adjusted to form a spring bed contour of irregular shape, the entire spring section being readily moved to raised or lowered positions without changing the contour formed by the segmental spring sections. Yet another object is to provide a hospital bed with a vertically guided spring frame and also with a device operable through the use of a single handle or other means for raising and lowering the spring frame. Other specific objects and advantages will appear as the specification proceeds.

The invention is illustrated, in a single embodiment, by the accompanying drawing, in which- Fig. 1 is a broken perspective view of apparatus embodying my invention; Fig. 2, a broken longitudinal sectional view showing the mechanism for raising and lowering the spring frame; and Fig. 8, an enlarged detailed sectional view, the section being taken as indicated at line 3 of Fig. 2.

In the illustration given in Figs. 1 to 3, inclusive, A designates a hospital bed frame and B, a spring frame vertically guided upon the bed frame.

The bed frame A may be of any suitable construction and may be formed as the usual bed frame is formed. In the illustration given, the frame comprises legs ID and II having a crosspiece l2 and a bottom rail l3. Slats I4 connect the top rail l2 and the lower rail l3. The structure just described forms the foot panel of the bed frame.

Similarly, the head panel or frame of the bed is formed by the posts [5 and 16 connected by a bottom rail [1 and a top rail l8. An intermediate rail 19 is also provided for connecting posts I5 and I6. Slats or bars 20 connect the rails I8 and IS in a well known manner. The bed may be provided with the usual casters 2|, if desired.

Any suitable means for guiding the spring frame B upon the bed frame A may be provided. In the illustration given, each of the bed posts or legs is provided with a track member 22. As shown more clearly in Fig. 3, the member 22 is welded to the bed post at 23 and provides a track closed on three sides for receiving the roller 24. The member 22 is apertured at 25 to receive the shaft 26 upon which the roller 24 is mounted. The shaft 25 has a reduced end extending through the plate 21, the outer end of the shaft being riveted to secure it firmly upon the plate. The other end of the plate is secured by rivets or other means to each of the beams 28 of frame B. It will be understood that each beam 28 is provided at each end with a plate 21 carrying a shaft 26 upon which is mounted a roller 24 and that the roller is housed within the guide 22 carried by the post adjacent thereto.

The head and foot sections of the bed frame are connected by longitudinal beams A and preferably the beams A are connected near their center by a transverse angle iron member A2.

Upon the beams 28 of frame B are mounted a plurality of bed sections indicated by the numerals 29, 30, 3| and 32. These sections are provided with frames which are pivotally connected and the innermost frames 30 and 3| are pivotally connected on each side to a plate 33 carried by each beam 28. The spring frames 29, 30, 3| and 32 are adjustably supported with respect to each other by a series of brace arms 34, 35, 35 and 37. The segmental bed structure just described, together with the brace arms, is an old structure well known in the art and the details thereof need not be set out herein. In such structure, the brace members are moved so as to support the spring frame sections in desired angular positions, as illustrated in Fig. 1 and the operation thereof is well known.

From the foregoing description, it will be observed that the spring frame 3 may be moved, through the use of its slidably mounted beams 28, in a vertical plane with respect to the bed frame A so as to raisethe segmental spring sections without disturbing any arrangement of the sections. Any suitable means for raising and lowering the beams 28 may be provided. In the specific illustration given, I provide an actuating rod 38 equipped at one end with a handle 39. The rod 38 is provided with threaded portions 40 and 4| upon which are mounted beams 42 and 43. The beams 42 and 43 are provided each with a threaded opening receiving the threaded section of rod 38 upon which it is mounted and the threads are effective for moving the beams 42 and 43 simultaneously toward each other or simultaneously away from each other.

Secured to each end of the cross-beams 42 and 43 are the link members 44 and 45. The link members are pivotally connected by pin 46 to the end of the beam. The outer end of each link 44 is pivotally connected to an ear '4! carried by the frame beams A. The outer end of each link 45 is connected to a depending ear 48 carried by a beam 28 of frame B. Thus, when the rod 38 is rotated and the threaded beams 42 and 43 are moved toward each other, the spring frame. B is: lifted. and when. the rod. 3.8 rotated in the' opposite direction the frame B is lowered. Any suitable type of handle may be employed which may be operated conveniently when drawn forwardly and, which, when; released will preferably fall to a position within the bed frame so that it is out: of theway; Instead of using a handle, it will be understood that power means may be provided for raising and lowering the spring frame.

In the operation of the structure, the spring 7 frame A may be raised to any desired elevation at which the patient may be conveniently treated. by: the physicianv or nurse and thereafter, the bed frame may be: lowered. toa. height. just a little: above. the floor at: which the patient can easily move out of bed without danger of injury). T0 effect. the raising: and lowering of the spring frame, it is merely. necessary for the nurse torotate the handle 39. As the beams 42 and 4-3 move toward each other, the spring, frame B is. raised while, when: the rod 38 is rotated to move thebeams 42 and away from each other, the; frame B is lowered. By the use of the threaded rod and nut structure, it will be understood that the spring; frame B is thusv automatically held in any position to which, it may be moved and special locking means need not be employed. Further, the vertical movement is accomplished through the use of a single rotating shaft. Furthermore, the screw-threaded shaft for effecting the; raising and lowering of the frame is mounted centrally with respect to the bed frameandv thus in'a non-accessible position with. respect to.- the. patient.

The segmental spring frame which permits. the spring sectionsto'be. angularly adjusted with respect to each other, is: operated independently of the: raising and lowering mechanism describedand may retain any selected angular position during the raising and lowering of the frame B. Furthermore, the structure shown permits the ready assembly upon the bed frame of. different types of spring. sections as desired.

While in the foregoing specification, I- have set forth a specific embodiment of the inventionin considerable detail, it will be understood: that such details of structure may be modified widely by those.- skilled in the art. without departing, from the spirit of my invention.

I claim:

1.. In. a. hospital bed structure, a bed. framehaving. corner posts, a spring. frame comprising. two longitudinally-extending beams, each of said beams being mounted for vertical movement. above said bed frame and invertical alignment with the sides thereof, segmental spring sections adjustably mounted upon said spring frame, means for supporting. said spring sections upon. said spring frame in angular positions, means for raising and lowering saidspring frame independently of the angular position of said spring sections comprising a. floating cross bar extending transversely of the spring frame and therebelow at each end thereof and provided with a threaded opening, a link. arm pivotally connected to each end-of each. of said cross-bars and having: its upper end piviotally connectedto said spring frame, a second. linkarm pivotally connected to each end off each cross bar and having its other end pivotallyconnected-tosaidbed frame,.andahandle-e uipped rotatable rod having threaded-I portions-engaging the threaded:

openings of said cross bars, whereby said rod may be rotated to selectively raise or lower said cross bars and the spring frame; linked thereto, and means'for guiding the spring'frame' for vertical movement upon said bed frame comprising a vertical track member secured to the inner side of each "corner post, said track members having side walls defining a substantially-enclosed track te receive a rotatably-mounted roller, one of the side walls having a longitudinallyextendi'ng slot therein adapted to receive a roller shaft, andv a. plate at each end of the spring frame beams and rigidly secured thereto, each oFsa-i'd plates having a roller shaft secured thereto provided with a rotatably-mounted roller, the roller liaising;receivedwithinthe track provided by the'side wallsor said vertical track members, whereby said spring frame is guidedfor vertical movement: upon saidbed frame while at the same time said trackv members restrain the spring frame against both lateral and longitudinalmovem'ent with respect to said-bed frame.

2 In a hospital: bed structure, a bed frame havingv corner posts, aspring frame: mounted for vertical movement upon said bed adjustable segmental; spring. sections mounted uponsaid. spring frame, means: for raising andlowering. said springfra'me independently of the adiustment of 'saids segmental spring sections 3 comprising. a floating. transverse. cross bar adi'acent each end of saidsspringframe, each of said cross bars being mounted below? said spring frame: and having; athreaded] opening. therethroush. at link: arm pivotallyconnected. at one end to each end of each cross: bar and being pivotally connected at its; other" enctto said spring frame-,a second link arm'pivotal ly connected at one end to. each end. of each cross bar and being piniotally connected at its other end: to said bed frame, a; handle-equipped.- rod having threaded portions rotatab-ly engaging the threaded openings of said cross bars, said threads being. disposed so that said rod; is: selectively rotatable to raise and lower said spring frame, and means for. guiding said. spring frame; for vertical movement uponsaid bed frame, saidmeans for guiding' the spring frame I comprising, a vertical track member rigidly secured to each. of said corner posts, said track members having side walls (is-- fining: rat-substantially enclosed track. for receivinga rotatably-mounted' roller, one side wall of each track member having a longitudinally-extending slot therein adapted to receive: a roller shaft, andaroller shaft rigidly mountedat each corner. of said: spring frame alignment with said slotsand/equipped with a'rotatably mounted rollerreceived within the adjacent track member-r HARRY M. BERNER.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 346,246 U'hde July 2'7, 1886 "HG-1791f Anderson Aug. 8; 1905 824505 7 Armstrong et a1; June 19', 1906 836,39 McG'ough Nov; 20, 1906 974,495"- Jon'es Nov, 1, 19:10 1,058,076 Loweree Apr; 8, 1913 1391?;944 Haskett Oct; 23, 1934 2,112,702- liiolbl Mar. 29, 1938 23931433 Caldwell et'al. Dec; 1, 1942 2,349,701" Buttikofer May 23; 194i 

